Anyone who competes in athletics can attest that the tougher the competition the better you perform. For a couple years I went to some All-Indian rodeos, mainly to get a horse seasoned and they were easier. So my steer wrestling runs didn't have to be as sharp and I had a pretty good shot at making money. I didn't know hardly anyone at those rodeos and you know they were really hard to get pumped up for them. It felt like I really didn't have people cheering me on. When it went well it wasn't as exciting, when it went bad it made me want to quit rodeo all together. It always seems like I would do better if there were people in my corner.
You know when I wrestled in high school it made me more confident to have teammates watching you and all fans in the crowd screaming and yelling, it was encouraging no matter how big and tough the opponent was. I love that feeling. This past year I took my horse I spent the two years Indian rodeoing on to some pro rodeos. Most of my friends rodeo at this level and some even do it for a living! So to have these guys at some of the same rodeos reminded me of what it was like to have people really cheering for you to do well.
Mandan's rodeo over the 4th of July weekend is probably the biggest rodeo of the summer that we can enter in our circuit. There was over 100 guys entered and I got drawn up in the same slack as my buddies. It was a good run and put me to the lead of the rodeo, only to finish splitting 3rd place. But what really encouraged me was how many of my friends would pat my back or cheer me on. It's a feeling that makes you feel like you could do it over and over again, even if it doesn't go well.
St. Paul reminds us that we are SURROUNDED BY A CLOUD OF WITNESSES!!! They are SAINTS in heaven cheering us on towards JESUS and the joy in heaven. When I went off and did my own thing at those Indian rodeos it was easy to be discouraged and want to quit, but when I knew there were people really pulling for me I wanted to run the race as fast as I can. This is the same with our faith life! Live in this REALITY that the Church Triumphant (those in heaven) are cheering on the Church Militant (you and I). And we all know that it's possible because they all made it, and they followed Jesus, who went through the most humiliating death but knew the joy that came at the end of it.
So what? When you are feeling discouraged in your faith life, or that you have slowed from a walk to a crawl in this race, then follow St. Paul's advice: 1. Go to Confession and shed all that baggage that is dragging you down 2. Ask the Saints and Angels to pray for you, even ask holy men and women on earth to pray for you and 3. Run! Don't walk, be vigilant and keep praying and studying.
Peace
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